Ucare Foundation

REGIONAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 

1. Health problems in children 

Communicable diseases: The leading causes of death in children are diarrhoea, dysentery, measles, acute respiratory infections and neonatal tetanus. Other common childhood diseases include diphtheria, whooping cough, and poliomyelitis and childhood tuberculosis. Worm infestations are also prevalent. Many of these diseases are preventable.

Malnutrition: affects 30-40% of children, especially those from poor, illiterate families without the means or knowledge to provide a balanced diet. The main types of malnutrition are protein energy malnutrition, anaemia, vitamin deficiency (especially vitamin A) and iodine deficiency.

2. Health problems in adults 

Infectious diseases: The most common diseases in adults in the region are pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonias, acute respiratory diseases, typhoid, amoebas, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis and malaria.

Non-Communicable Diseases: The most common are heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer, especially lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women. 

3. Health problems in women 

Reproductive Health: Reproductive health problems are a significant cause of premature death and disability among women in Pakistan. One in every 38 women dies from pregnancy-related causes. Many of these deaths are preventable. However, only 24% of women have access to health facilities and a skilled healthcare worker attends only 18% of deliveries.

Toba Tek Singh district has a population of 1.7 million, over 80% of whom live in rural areas. Only 53% of people have access to safe water and only 20% to sanitation. Poor sanitation, lack of health education and unhygienic, overcrowded living conditions cause many of the major health problems outlined overleaf.